The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-08-18
HELENA.
A Sketch OF that Fourth OF july Fight and Vie
tory.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRtBUEE: Twenty-Five
years have passed, aud feel like skirmlshing
around over what saw during my three years
service in Co. Z, 18th Wis. If make state
ments that will not bear inspection put me on
extra duty, but don't cut down my rations.
We Western troops did not have the fighting
10 do that they did in the Eastern Department.;
bnt 20. ii you will. 20 such sickly places as Mem
pills. Helena. Vicksburg. aud many others /
might mention. and you will see the last rest
ing places Of thousands who were as brave rs
the bravest, who gave their lives. What more
could they do2
Some time ago / read in THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE an account of tho battle at Helena,
Ark, which was fought on the 4th day of July,
1853. The cOmrade was not correct in regard
TO the troops engaged: his account gave the
convalescents quartered about Fort Curtis the
credit for the victory. Tho troops engaged
were the 9Th Ark. Cav, list Ind. Cav 18th, Sd,
Both Iowa, 43d Ind, 2oth Wis., and Haydb's
Dubuque battery. | think Batteries A, b, G,
ID and + were manned by Missouri regiment.
The 18th Wis. WAS stationed in the rihe-pits
between Batteries b and e, which commanded
the Little Rock road The Federal forces re-
ported on the morning of July for duty 5000,
aud were commanded by Gen. Prentiss. The
COnfederates were composed of Arkansas and
Missouri troops, commanded by Gems. Holmes,
Marmaduke, Price and Walker, and were re-
ported lS,OOO strong.
Gen. Price opposed this move upon Helena
before they left Little Rock. Their object was
to capture the Commissiry, Quartermaster and
Ordnance stores-whicn were for the supply of
Grants army at Vicksburg-and have jolly
good time celebrating the glorious old day of
Independence. The display Of ladies on the
bluffs, who waved their handkerchiefs and hur-
rahed for JEFF Davis was distinctly heard
Citizens came from miles around with train
of 20 wagons drawn by oxen, mules and horses,
loaded with good things for the occasion.
Such cheering a we heard from the Confederate
side as they charged OH Battery e., The COufed-
crates showed great bravery in charging four
times under a terrible croSSlire of grape aud
canister from Fort Curtis Haydn's Dubuque
battery aud Battery Il, with shot aud sh,l
from the gunboat Tyler, before Battery was
taken. When they came down the hill toward
Fort Curtis, they became confused and locked
into a church for protection, where they were
captured. They lost !, 800 killed, wounded and
prisoners. The dead and wounded were left
To our mercy aud were kindly cared for. The
gunboat Tyler and Fort Curtis saved our bacon
and trip 10 a Southern prison, Much credit
is due to Gen. SalOman for his bravery aud
good judgment through the fight The pris-
oners captured were OH their way North be-
fore the battle was over.
This defeat caused bad blood between Mar
mRduke aud Walker. AIarmaduke called
Walker a coward, and duel was the result in
which Walker was killed. Ii would be inter
esting ii Lieut.. GreathOuse, of the list Ind Cav
and Lieut.. Young OF the 9th Kan. Cav, would
give their experience as scouts in Arkansas
JAMES j. HAN, Oconomowoc, Wis.